The NSSN sends solidarity and congratulations to one of our affiliated unions the Bakers’, Food & Allied Workers Union (BFAWU) and their members in McDonalds, who have won a famous victory. We supported their historic strike in Crayford and Cambridge on September 4th, the first in the company in the UK and the NSSN has been a longstanding part of the Fast Food Rights/Hungry for Justice campaign that was launched by the Bakers’ union. We believe that the action and the unionisation of often young workers into the union has been central to the award of the pay rise. (See report from The Mirror)
We salute the BFAWU, the McDonalds workers and we are delighted to print the union’s statement below:-
The BFAWU welcomes the raise in pay announced by McDonalds corporation it demonstrates that when workers stand together and take strike action that workers can win. We congratulate those who took strike action and stood up for fairness this increase is due to their courage and commitment to improve working conditions and the lives of those who work in McDonalds.
Our members have faced injustices exploitative employment practices as well as low pay. On the 4th September after trying to resolve grievances our members took strike action calling on McDonalds to raise pay end it’s use of zero hours contracts and its culture of bullying. By taking this action our members shone a light on an organisation that has led the race to the bottom not just in the UK but across the world.
These courageous workers demanded to be treated with dignity and respect something that all workers deserve, and when you work for the second largest employer in the world which makes profits in the tens of billions you expect to be able to receive a wage that enables you to live.
This pay rise is a step in the right direction for all of McDonalds workers but by no means is it the end of the campaign if just 30 workers can lift wages above anything McDonalds have raised in recent history or being forced to through legislation then imagine what we can do when thousands organise across McDonalds and what we will achieve.
Our members are still demanding a real contract of employment a minimum wage for all of at least £10 and an end to the culture of bullying and harassment in the workplace.
Ian Hodson
National President Bakers’, Food & Allied Workers Union
Twitter: @ianbfawu
Keep sending solidarity to the BFAWU, donate to the strike fund and also help the fund by buying a #McStrike t-shirt
‘NHS Winter Crisis’ day of action Saturday February 3rd: includes Emergency Demonstration in London (Assemble 12noon Gower Street WC16), coupled with regional action and demonstrations in response to winter crisis (also supporting NHS unions’ pay claim) – called by Health Campaigns Together and People’s Assembly
NSSN news
Advanced notice: the 2018 National Shop Stewards Network Annual Conference will be from 11am-4.30pm on Saturday June 30th in Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, Holborn, London. It is open to all trade union and anti-cuts campaigners
Get your trade union branch or trades council to affiliate to the NSSN – it only costs £50. Already affiliated? Please think about renewing it. Also, many of our supporters pay a few pounds a month. You can set up a similar standing order to ‘National Shop Stewards Network’, HSBC – sort code 40-06-41, account number 90143790. Our address is NSSN, PO Box 54498, London E10 9DE. Affiliation letter is below
Download the ‘Join the NSSN’ leaflet here
And if you can, come to one of our regional Conferences. If there is not one in your area, get in touch to either assist in organising or have a speaker at one of your meetings or events. Contact Rob or Linda on [email protected]
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Union News
RMT
RMT strike action solid and united in rail safety disputes this morning as union steps up pressure for summit talks (8 Jan) – RMT General Secretary Mick Cash said; “RMT members remain solid and united in each of the separate disputes across the country over rail safety this morning as we continue to fight to put public safety, security and access before the profits of the train operating companies. Today we have written to Transport Secretary Chris Grayling calling for summit talks under an independent chair to break the deadlock in these long-running disputes. We expect a positive response to this important initiative and we welcome the support of both the Labour Party and the TUC for our proposal. It offers a real chance of progress…” read more RMT starts 2018 with DOO strikes in 5 train companies
National dispute fund (DOO disputes) – If you would like to donate to the RMT National Dispute Fund which makes payments to support their striking members taking part in National DOO disputes then you can donate via PayPal using the donate button below or make a cheque payable to RMT National Dispute Fund and send it to the address below. Alternatively, you can ring their Freephone helpline on 0800 376 3706 who will be happy to process a credit card payment for you, or, if you would like to pay via internet banking, please email [email protected] for further details. Vicky Thompson, Finance Manager RMT, 39 Chalton Street, London NW1 1JD. Tel: 020-7529-8843
TSSA
To all Cross Country members not covered by collective bargaining (4 Jan) – You should have received a ballot paper asking you to vote on whether or not you support industrial action. There is now one week to go to register your vote! Completed ballot papers must be returned by next Thursday, 11 January 2018, in order to count. Every vote counts! Because of recent government anti-trade union legislation, if you don’t vote, it will effectively count as a vote against action. A reminder of why you are being asked to take the big step of voting YES to industrial action read more
Unite
Hackney schools face ‘dirty loos’ as cleaners to strike in holiday pay row (5 Jan) – Six schools in Hackney will be left dirty and with rubbish piling up as cleaners gear up for five days of strike action in a dispute over the ‘outrageous’ failure to pay proper holiday rates. More than 40 school cleaners, members of Unite, the country’s largest union, will strike for four days from 00.01 on Tuesday 30 January until 23.59 on Friday 2 February. There will be a further 24-hour strike from 00.01 on Monday 5 February. The cleaners voted by 100 per cent on a 60 per cent turn out for strike action, following the refusal of their employer OCS Group Ltd to pay the London Living Wage; proposals to cut pay with new term time only contracts; and refusing to pay holiday pay in line with its legal obligations, which state that holiday pay should reflect normal remuneration. The cleaners are also angry over OCS’ failure to discuss the five per cent pay claim for April 2018. Unite regional officer Onay Kasab said: “What we have here is outrageous salami-slicing by OCS of pay and employment conditions of an already lowly-paid group of workers…” read more
Bolton based workers take strike action against a real terms pay cut (8 Jan) – Workers at a fork lift truck engineering company in Bolton are on strike today (Monday 8 January) in protest over a paltry pay offer which amounts to a real terms pay cut. 82 per cent of workers at GNB Industrial Power who took part in the ballot, voted in favour of industrial action. The workforce is furious that the company which increased its profits to over £3 million has offered workers a pay deal worth just 1.5 per cent when inflation (retail price index) is more than double at 3.9 per cent. The workers have called an overtime ban and a series of 24 hour and 48 hour strikes through January, February and the beginning of March read more
Strike action set to delay Crossrail project – Members of Unite, the UK’s construction union, employed on Crossrail will take strike action early next year, in a dispute which is set to delay the project. The 80 electricians are employed by Balfour Beatty on the Woolwich section of the Crossrail development. The workers recorded an 85 per cent yes vote in favour of strike action in the dispute which concerns the payment of an improved second tier payment and a four week finishing bonus, payable when the workers are informed they are to be made redundant. An initial 24 hour strike has been called for Wednesday 10 January. Further dates for strikes are anticipated to be called early in the new year read more
Support Manchester Mears housing workers – send messages of support to Unite rep Colin Pitt: [email protected] and Unite regional officer [email protected] and post donations to: Unite House, Merchants Quay, Salford Quays, Salford M50 3SG
Support North West bus strikes at First Manchester – Send messages of support and donations via Neil Clarke, [email protected] c/o Unite, Jack Jones House, 2 Churchill Way, Liverpool L3 8EF
Unite/PCS Coventry Public Meeting: ‘Scrap the pay cap! Stop the cuts!’ (supported by Coventry TUC) – speakers include Mark Serwotka (General Secretary of PCS) and Howard Beckett (Unite Assistant General Secretary) and Jim Cunningham MP – 6pm on Wednesday 10th January at the Methodist Central Hall in Coventry
PCS
Support DWP strikes:
- Send messages of support to [email protected]
- Send donations to the strike fund to PCS DWP Group, 3rd Floor, Town Centre House, Merrion Centre, Leeds, LS2 8LY
CWU
Catch up on the latest with the CWU’s campaigns and disputes: Royal Mail Four Pillars, BT Pensions and Close the Gap/Justice for Agency Workers in BT
POA
Sign the petition against the Government reducing the Prison Officer Pension
FBU
Fire Brigades Union turns 100 (4 Jan) – This year will mark 100 years since the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), the first and only UK trade union to champion the specific needs of all firefighters, was founded in 1918. Some 85% of all firefighters are members. To mark this historic milestone the FBU is planning a year of events to celebrate the achievements of firefighters and their union over the past century. Before the union’s birth, firefighters were more frequently killed or seriously burned as a result of the job, not least because they then had neither breathing apparatus nor clothing that would protect them from fire. They were forced to live on stations continuously with no access to holiday or sick pay. Pensions were unheard of. In its first 100 years the FBU has secured extensive rights, protections and safety standards for firefighters. But the union’s centenary isn’t just a celebration for those in the fire community, says the union’s current leader. It is a celebration everyone should be invested in because the union’s campaigning has meant the public has benefitted from improved safety standards over the years. Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said: “This is an opportunity for firefighters and the communities they serve to take a long look down the road we have travelled over the last ten decades. We hope that celebrating our history as an independent and democratic organisation for firefighters will help us secure this vital life-saving service for the future read more
NEU
Support the Newham strikes against academisation: A number of schools in Newham have been on strike against threats of academisation, including Avenue Primary, Royal Docks and now Cumberland primary this Tuesday. You can send messages of support to [email protected]
EIS
2018 Is The Year To Finally Agree Fair Pay For Scotland’s Teachers (5 Jan) – The EIS has warned that the pay of Scotland’s teachers must be substantially improved this year if strike action in schools is to be avoided. The EIS and other unions will shortly enter new negotiations with local authorities and the Scottish Government on the 2018/2019 pay settlement for Scotland’s teachers via the Scottish Negotiating Committee for Teachers (SNCT). While the EIS values the SNCT and remains committed to good-faith negotiations, it is also warning that another sub-inflation level pay rise is unacceptable and that pay must be restored to pre-austerity levels or teachers will move to industrial action this year read more
GMB
Firefighters at the Sellafield nuclear site are to stage fresh strikes in a long-running dispute over pay (8 Jan) – Members of the GMB union will walk out from 6am to 6pm on both January 11 and 22. GMB official Chris Jukes said a new pay offer last month was not enough to resolve the row. “The two sides are not miles apart, but there needs to be further local negotiations to reach a settled position,” he said. “GMB has said over and over again that it is willing to negotiate for as long as it takes to reach some kind of offer that is capable of reaching a resolution to this dispute, even in the short term read more from Energy Voice
GMB Victory For Foster Carers (Jan 3) – GMB backs select committee’s rallying call to improve conditions for foster carers. Foster carers’ union welcomes Education Committee’s backing for key recommendations as step forward for recognition of fostering. GMB, the union for foster carers, has welcomed a new report from the Education Select Committee calling for a fundamental review of the whole care system to ensure children get the support they need read more
BECTU
Keep supporting the Picturehouse workers – they have voted by huge majorities to continue their action: read the latest on Brixton Ritzy Facebook Page and those of Hackney, Crouch End, Central, Dulwich East and Duke of York Brighton
Donate to the Picturehouse Cinema strike fund: https://www.crowdpac.co.uk/campaigns/250/picturehousestrike
NUJ
Swindon Newsquest strike: day two (3 Jan) – Some of the placards were slightly battered by Storm Eleanor and a little on the soggy side, but spirits remained high outside the Swindon Advertiser on day two of the Newsquest strike. As messages of solidarity poured in to @AdverStrike, NUJ general secretary, Michelle Stanistreet, led the plaudits, saying: “Well done Swindon Advertiser journalists for taking a stand to support quality journalism. It is a terrible shame that you have been forced to go on strike out of frustration of not being listened to by management which has refused to pay you properly, which has sacked many of your colleagues leaving you with crippling workloads. “Despite the rain and the wind you have come out to tell your readers about the poverty wages you receive and your passion for good, local journalism.” Read more Messages of support and solidarity can be sent to: [email protected]. Tweet your support to @AdverStrike #Cutsquest. Donations for the strike fund can be sent to: Unity Trust Bank, Account name: NUJ Wiltshire Branch, Account number: 35016904 Bank sort code: 608301
Unison
Support the Birmingham Homecare Workers – Please support our 350 home care workers who are in dispute over redundancies and a new rota system. They have voted in an industrial action ballot with 99% voting to strike. As you will know older people, those with learning difficulties and mental health problems have all seen major reductions in the services to help them because of shrinking budgets. The Tories have continued to cut budgets for social care and in Birmingham we have gone from a social care workforce of over 7,000 in 2010 to less than 2,000 now Facebook page
Support the Royal Devon and Exeter porters, who have taken strike action against the imposition of 12 hour shifts. Donate to their hardship fund. Send a cheque to the branch at: UNISON Office, Baker House , Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Trust, Barrack Road, Exeter EX2 5DW. Or make a direct donation to the branch account
Account Name: UNISON Royal Devon and Exeter Health 10296 Branch
Account Number: 20323929 Sort Code: 60-83-01
UCU
Deadline for talks on USS pension scheme extended into 2018 (19 Dec) – Negotiations on the future of pensions for university staff who are members of the Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) have been extended until 23 January 2018. The talks were due to end today, but the UCU and Universities UK (UUK) have agreed to continue negotiations after the Christmas break with a view to reaching an agreement. UCU is currently balloting its members for industrial action over changes proposed by UUK to slash USS members’ retirement income. That ballot closes on Friday 19 January and the union is urging any members who have not yet voted to cast their vote immediately read more
United Voices of the World union
The cleaners at Lee Hecht Harrison (LHH) will strike if necessary in pursuit of the London Living Wage of £10.20 per hour. They are currently only paid the minimum poverty wage of £7.50 per hour – LHH is a large company located in the heart of London’s financial district, just next to Monument tube station. It outsources the cleaners to City Central Cleaning & Support Services Ltd. The cleaners’ request for the LLW was rejected without explanation, and despite LHH’s profits of £2 million with a huge 132% increase in revenue this year. Consequently, the cleaners, members of UVW, have voted to strike and will do so indefinitely until their reasonable demand is met. They have predictably but unlawfully been threatened with potential dismissal if they participate in a strike, for which they are currently taking their employer to court read more
Other news
Conference: ‘Turkey under the state of emergency – campaigning to win change’ – called by Solidarity with the People of Turkey (SPOT) – 9.30am Saturday 20th January details here
Blacklisting & Victimisation
Blacklist Support Group financial appeal: the Blacklist support group is desperately short of funds, to continue the incredible work we need more finance, would you please consider making a donation, raise it at your branches and trade councils. Please make cheques payable to Joint sites committee and send to 70 Darnay Rise Chelmsford Essex CM1 4XA. Please forward onto your contacts many thanks Steve Kelly (JSC Treasurer)
Blacklisted t-shirts available at: https://shop.hopenothate.org.uk/component/hikashop/product/78-blacklisted-t-shirt
Book: http://newint.org/books/politics/blacklisted-secret-war/
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNcgrNs6pB8
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/blacklistSG/
Blog: www.hazards.org/blacklistblog
International
Fiji: End the lockout at Nadi Airport read more
Diary
2018
June
30 National Shop Stewards Network 2018 Annual Conference 11am-4.30pm Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, Holborn, London
CONTACT US
PHONE 07952 283 558
EMAIL mailto:[email protected]
TWITTER – https://twitter.com/NSSN_AntiCuts
FACEBOOK NSSN GROUP or STOP The CUTS Likes page
ADDRESS NSSN, PO Box 54498, London E10 9DE
